Mourning FDR, 1945, Ed Clark, Life.

The eclectic Erik Keilholtz, publicity director for Arhoolie Records, points us to this collection of traditional sacred African-American steel guitar music that includes a tribute to FDR, "Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Poor Man's Friend."

FDR was beloved by bluesmen: His place in the hearts of African-Americans is reflected in the dozens of blues and gospel songs that invoke his memory, a phenomenon described by a Dutch scholar in the book Roosevelt's Blues.

Listen to a clip and see the lyrics of Big Joe Williams' tribute to the late president, "His Spirit Lives On."

Well you know that President Roosevelt he was awful fine,
He helped the crippled boys and he almost healed the blind,
Oh yes, gonna miss President Roosevelt.
Well he’s gone, he’s gone, but his spirit always 'll on.
He traveled out East, he traveled to the West,
But of all the Presidents, President Roosevelt was the best,
Oh yes, gonna miss [etc.]
Well now he traveled by land and he traveled by sea,
He helped the United States boys, and he also helped Chinese,
Oh yes, gonna miss [etc.]
President Roosevelt went to Georgia boy, and he ride around and
round, (twice)
I guess he imagined he seen that Pale Horse when they was trailin' him
down.
Oh yes, gonna miss [etc.]
Well now the rooster told the hen "I want to crow,
You know President Roosevelt has gone, can’t live in this shack no
more,"
Oh yes, we’re gonna miss President Roosevelt,
Well he’s gone, he’s gone, but his spirit always’ll live on.

I include the image below because you'd be surprised how relatively difficult it's become to find an image on the Web of FDR with his trademark cigarette holder. A Google search turns up plenty of copies of a photo of him in a wheelchair (one of only two known to exist), as well as images of a Washington statue of him in a wheelchair. Given the lengths to which Roosevelt went to conceal his handicap and prevent his depiction in a wheelchair, this seems not right, almost a posthumous invasion of privacy. Meantime, the cigarette's out at his DC memorial. Here's hoping the anti-pince-nez lobby, if there is one, never gets custody of the old boy's memory.

Blues inspiration: Hyde Park meets the Delta